American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee and the reconstruction of destroyed Jewish homes in Lithuania, 1921–1924

Abstract

ABSTRACT This article presents the reconstruction of housing for Jewish Lithuanian refugees returning home after World War I. The refugees found their original homes ‘completely destroyed’ or ‘partially destroyed,’ which were the formal categories used by the government. Between 1921 and 1924, the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) worked with the refugees and the Lithuanian government to rebuild communities, and also collaborated with the local Jewish National Council (JNC) in providing financial and organizational support for reconstruction. This was a tenuous relationship based on JDC and JNC differences and oft-changing government housing policies. This article analyzes the rebuilding of two cities: Šiauliai (completely destroyed) and Panevėžys (partially destroyed).